You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under
chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 141625.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice ("TDCJ") received a request for a copy of the
evidence supporting the discipline of an inmate, including a copy of the report and the tape
of the hearing, and a copy of TDCJ's policy governing the loss of good behavior time based
on an offense. The requestor also asked several factual questions; however the Public
Information Act "does not require governmental bodies to provide answers to general
inquiries." Open Records Decision No. 555 at 1 (1990). You state that you have provided
a copy of the inmate disciplinary rules to the requestor. However, you claim that the
requested information regarding the discipline of a specific inmate is excepted from
disclosure under sections 552.101, 552.107, and 552.131 of the Government Code. We have
considered the exceptions you claim and reviewed the submitted information.

Section 552.131 of the Government Code relates to information about inmates of the
department.(1) Section 552.131 provides in relevant part:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or by Section 552.029 [of the
Government Code], information obtained or maintained by the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice is excepted from [required public disclosure]
if it is information about an inmate who is confined in a facility operated by
or under a contract with the department.

Notwithstanding . . . Section 552.131, the following information about an
inmate who is confined in a facility operated by or under a contract with the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice is subject to required disclosure under
Section 552.021:

. . .

(8) basic information regarding the death of an inmate in custody, an
incident involving the use of force, or an alleged crime involving the
inmate.

Our review of the information indicates the requested documents pertain to an alleged assault
by an inmate. You contend that section 552.029 does not mandate disclosure of basic
information contained in the documents because the responsive information does not pertain
to an alleged crime, but a disciplinary matter. However, simply because the assault was not
prosecuted does not necessarily mean it was not an "alleged crime." We note that 552.029(8)
states that basic information about an "alleged crime," not a prosecuted crime, is subject to
disclosure. Here, the submitted documents reflect that the inmate was suspected of and
disciplined for assaulting another inmate with a weapon. We therefore conclude that the
responsive documents pertain to an alleged crime,and basic information contained within
the documents is subject to disclosure under section 552.029. See Penal Code § 22.01
(assault), 22.02 (aggravated assault); Gov't Code § 552.029(8). Basic information that is
subject to disclosure under section 552.029(8) includes the time and place of the incident,
the names of inmates and of department employees who were involved, a brief narrative of
the incident, a brief description of any injuries sustained by anyone involved, and information
regarding any criminal charges or disciplinary actions that were filed as a result of the
incident. Any other responsive information, including the tape recording of the disciplinary
hearing, is excepted from disclosure under section 552.131(a). Based on this finding, we
need not reach the remaining grounds for withholding the information.

This letter ruling is limited to the particular records at issue in this request and limited to the
facts as presented to us; therefore, this ruling must not be relied upon as a previous
determination regarding any other records or any other circumstances.

This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the
governmental body and of the requestor. For example, governmental bodies are prohibited
from asking the attorney general to reconsider this ruling. Gov't Code § 552.301(f). If the
governmental body wants to challenge this ruling, the governmental body must appeal by
filing suit in Travis County within 30 calendar days. Id. § 552.324(b). In order to get the
full benefit of such an appeal, the governmental body must file suit within 10 calendar days.
Id. § 552.353(b)(3), (c). If the governmental body does not appeal this ruling and the
governmental body does not comply with it, then both the requestor and the attorney general
have the right to file suit against the governmental body to enforce this ruling. Id.
§ 552.321(a).

If this ruling requires the governmental body to release all or part of the requested
information, the governmental body is responsible for taking the next step. Based on the
statute, the attorney general expects that, within 10 calendar days of this ruling, the
governmental body will do one of the following three things: 1) release the public
records; 2) notify the requestor of the exact day, time, and place that copies of the records
will be provided or that the records can be inspected; or 3) notify the requestor of the
governmental body's intent to challenge this letter ruling in court. If the governmental body
fails to do one of these three things within 10 calendar days of this ruling, then the requestor
should report that failure to the attorney general's Open Government Hotline, toll free,
at 877/673-6839. The requestor may also file a complaint with the district or county
attorney. Id. § 552.3215(e).

If this ruling requires or permits the governmental body to withhold all or some of the
requested information, the requestor can appeal that decision by suing the governmental
body. Id. § 552.321(a); Texas Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gilbreath, 842 S.W.2d 408, 411 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ).

Please remember that under the Act the release of information triggers certain procedures for
costs and charges to the requestor. If records are released in compliance with this ruling, be
sure that all charges for the information are at or below the legal amounts. Questions or
complaints about over-charging must be directed to the General Services Commission
at 512/475-2497.

If the governmental body, the requestor, or any other person has questions or comments
about this ruling, they may contact our office. Although there is no statutory deadline for
contacting us, the attorney general prefers to receive any comments within 10 calendar days
of the date of this ruling.

1. As of the date of this letter ruling, four different sections of the Act were denominated as section 552.131. Sections 552.131 and 552.029, relating to inmates of the department, were added to chapter 552 of the Government Code by the Act of May 26, 1999, 76th Leg., R.S., ch.783, §§ 1, 2, 1999 Tex. Gen. Laws 3407-08.